Uconn

Dolson dazzles Ducks in several different ways With video report By Roger Cleaveland Republican-American

Connecticut's Stefanie Dolson (31) reacts as she leaves the court during a time-out in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Oregon, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013, in Hartford, Conn. Dolson finished the game with 26 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists for the second triple-double in UConn's history. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

HARTFORD — After enduring a weekend of physical play against Maryland and Penn State on the road, UConn senior center Stefanie Dolson got the opportunity vs. run-and-gun Oregon to showcase more of her versatile skillset Wednesday night at the XL Center.

The 6-foot-5 post player turned in just the second triple-double in UConn history during the Huskies' 114-68 victory over Oregon in front of 7,961 fans.

Dolson accomplished something none of UConn's All-Americans ever did as she finished with 26 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists in 31 minutes of play while shooting 10-for-11 from the field.

"I'm honored," said Dolson, who joined Bristol's Laura Lishness (1989) in UConn's exclusive triple-double club. "There is no other word to describe it. I was really surprised when they told me that. I never expected it. So I'm just very happy."

UConn coach Geno Auriemma was probably even happier. For years, he's talked about how much he appreciates the way Dolson has worked at getting in great shape and honing her skills.

"You've got to be pretty good all-around to accomplish something like that,'' Auriemma said. "Stefanie hasn't had a chance to handle the ball much these last couple games because of the way defenses have been playing against her. But I thought tonight she was fabulous. She did all the things that make her the All-American that she is at both ends of the floor. That's what we've come to expect I think from Stefanie and I'm really, really, really happy for her. Nobody deserves it more than her."

While you would think such a free-flowing game would benefit perimeter players, it was Dolson who took full advantage to show how much her game has grown.

"Every player tries to improve every part of their game," Dolson said. "For me, I have always been a good passer, but since getting here I have gotten better at scoring, gotten better at rebounding, and I'm just proud of myself. I'm proud of my teammates for finding me and for allowing me to get this tonight."

She got the triple-double with 1:20 to play when she passed to Kiah Stokes for a 15-foot jumper.

"I told her, 'Kiah, I was going to come right up to you and hug you.' I didn't care if they scored a basket,'" she said.

Lishness turned her triple-double during the 1989 Big East Tournament final against Providence. She had 14 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists to lead the Huskies to their first Big East Tournament title.

During Wednesday night's statistical bonanza, Breanna Stewart led the Huskies in scoring while finishing with 28 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Bria Hartley also had an outstanding overall game with 17 points, six rebounds and six assists while Kiah Stokes turned in the third double-double of her career with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Jefferson contributed 14 points and six assists.

Oregon (2-2), which went into the game averaging a national-best 109.7 points per game, was led by freshman Chrishae Rowe with 27 points and Jillian Alleyne with 15. But the Ducks, who went into the game averaging 91.3 points per game and making 12.3 3-pointers per game shot just 7-for-28 from beyond the arc and 30.7 percent overall from the field.

They were no match for a UConn team that shot 63.8 percent (44 for 69) from the field and embraced the chance to open the game up a little.

"(It was important) not getting ourselves out of whack," Stewart said. "Obviously Oregon plays kind of a hectic style, and we wanted to control the tempo and do what we do. I don't mind the up and down. I think that is what makes the game exciting. I like the way that we play. I think our coaches know what they are doing. Oregon looked like they were having fun out there, but at the same time so were we."

Dolson said that she wouldn't actually say she felt relieved to go from the physical style of play she faced against Maryland and Penn State this past weekend to the more free-flowing style Oregon prefers, because both were difficult.

"Let's not say relief because I was hit," Dolson said. "They were sprinting up and down that floor. I give Oregon a lot of credit. They came out fighting and sprinting. But it was nice to kind of see the lane kind of open up a little bit and give myself, Stewie and Kiah the chance to show our game and get a chance to play."

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